Road-grading machine



c(l SPETH. ROAD GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 8| i918.

C.l SPETH. I ROAD GRADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IuLY a. IsIa.

v:I SHEETS-sain 2.

Patented Dec. 9,1919. I

C. SPEIH.

ROAD GRADING MACHINE.

APPucATloN FILED :uw a. 1919.

1,324;5 26. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. rrr, s

CHARLIE SPETH, OF PALMYRA, NEBRASKA.

ROAD-GRADING MACHINE.

Application filed July 8, 1918.

skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to road grading machines, more particularly of that type adapted, during progress over. a road way, to pick up dirt longitudinally at one portion of the road and to discharge .said dirt at another portion of the road toV procure a proper crowning of the surface ofr the road way.

It is in general the object of my invention to simplify, strengthen and otherwise improve the structure and to increase the efficiency of devices of this character.v

A feature of the invention resides in ythe 'provision in a machineV including a plow and a conveying member associated therewith to receive the dirt therefrom, of means whereby said conveying member may be adjusted without affecting the driving operation.

Another feature resides in the provision of a conveying member of exceedingly strong simple structure adapted to receive dirt directly from a plow, and to discharge said dirt at diametrically opposite point.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides more particularly in the novel combination, formation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a road grading machine embodying the present invention.

Fig.'2 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the machine.

Fig. et is atrans'verse sectional view therethrough on the line of Fig.

. Fig. 5 is a rear velevation of theniachiiie. F 1g. 6-1s a detail sectional view taken At'ransversely through one of the table driv 'f adjustii'ig' the turn table.'

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

serial No. 243,959. i

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8-S of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing an arrangement embodying the use of a pair of turn tables for discharging the dirt a relatively greater distance laterally of the plow.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of what isshown in F 9.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, there is provided a main framework comprising side sills 10 convergent toward the front and connected at their forward ends by a journal headll in which is mounted a vertical pivot shaft 12 carrying a wheel supporting and steering truck 13 having a draft tongue 141 connected therewith. The rear end portions of the sills 10 are inclined downwardly from the substantially horizontally disposed major portions of said sills and have journaled in their extremities the endportion of an axle 15 having ground wheels 16 mounted thereon. The pivot shaft 'l2 of the truck 13 is braced below the forward ends of the sills by a liournal collar 17 thereon from which arms 18 extend diagonally inward for connection with the sills 10. A suiiiciently strong supporting framework is thus provided, the rear ends of these sills being held against relative lateral movement by the shaft 16 or by any other desired means. Extending inwardly in convergent relation from the forward end portions of the sills 10 is a pair of bars 19 which are connected at their lower ends b y a plate 2O which is pivoted between upstanding ears 21 at thev forward portionof an annular track frame 22, the axis of these pivotal connections extending horizontally of the machine in a longitudinal direction whereby the track frame 22 may be tilted to raise or depress its portions at the sides of the machine. For supporting the rear portion of the track frame in a manner permitting such pivotal adjustment thereof, a pair of bars 23 have their lower ends pivoted to upstanding posts 211V at transversely spaced portions of the rear ofthe track frame and` said bars are inclined upwardly toward the rear ofthe machine. Journaled in standards 25 carried by the sills rearwardly of the upper ends of said bars 23 are shafts 27 which have each fixed thereon a gear wheel .28 whose teeth are in mesh with series of gear teeth 29 on the' upper endv of the corresponding bar 23. These shafts 27 are swiveled in alineinent at their inner ends in a block 27 and each also carries a hand wheel 30. rlhus by rotating the hand wheels, the bars nray be raised or lowered to consequently elevate or depress the sides of the track fraine 22 to which they are attached, this tilting inovenient being readily permitted by the three point support provided for the track franie.

rlhe periphery of the track franie is provided with a depending flange 3l having au inwardlyY directed annular track 32 at its lower edge on which are mounted rollers 33 carried by the4 outwardly extended journaled shafts at the upper ends of brach` ets Se upstanding rigidly from a turn table plate 35, which underlies the track frame 22 and which has its diaineter considerably greater than the diameter of said tracl fraine whereby the turn table extends outwardly of the track fraine. isposed at one side of the turn table is a plow BG haw ing its point disposed below the turn table with its inold board overlying` the adjacent edge portion of the turn table to direct the dirt turned up by the plow on to said turn table, the plow being secured in this position by bars extending upward therefroin for ecureinent to the track fraine 22, whereby free rotation of the turn table relativo to the plow is permitted. Also carried by arins 3S extending downwardly and outwardly from the track fraine 22 is a scraper plate 39 which overlies the peripheral portion of the turn table and is adapted to scra )e dirt froin said turn table upon rotation of the turn table, to deposit said dirt at the side of the machine. rllius upon forward niovenient of the niachine and rotation of tho turn table, dirt will be deposited on the turn table by the plow at one side of the machine and will be carried to the other side of thc inachine and there discharged by the plate For eifecting this rotation of the turn table, in a manner readily' permitting the described adjustments thereof, a gear wheel 4G is carried by one of the ground. wheels 1G of the rear axle 13, and meshes with a pinion l on the rear end of a. shaft d2 eX- tended longitudinally under one of the sills l() and journaled in hanger bearings LIL-3 depending' therefrom. A second shaft la is journaled in hanger brackets alo depending from the horizontal forward portion and the sills of these shafts, which are thus disposed in angular relation, are connected by a universal coupling 4G. The shaft dt extends a considerable distance forwardly of the turn table and has fixed on its forward end a beveled gear 4T meshing with a gear 8 carried on the shaft 49 also journaled in the forward hanger bearing lo and extending obliquely with respect to the shaft sie.

The rear end of the shaft d'9 is connected by a universal coupling with one end of a 1 ,aeafec tubular shaft section 5l in which is telescopically slidable a shaft section 52 which is squared to lit into correspondingly squared recesses of the shaft 5l or transversely connected with the shaft 5l in a inanner insuring driving rotation thereof by said shaft 5l. rfhe shaft section 52 is connected by a universal coupling 53 with a shaft 5e niounted in a bearing 55 upstanding froin the track fraine 22 adjacent its central portion. This shaft 55 carries a beveled gear 56 meshing with a beveled gear 57 on the upper end of a shaft 58 which is journaled in and extended through the track fraine 22, and iigidly connected with the turn table.

The tilting inoveinent'to which the shaft carried by the track fraine is subjected during adjusted tilting movement of the track fraaie is thus compensated for by the universal couplings 50 and 53, and the eX- tensible shaft line formed by the sections 5l and 52.

Reviewing now the general operation of the machine for procuring a proper transverse grading or crowning of the road way, it is drawn along the road to dig a furrow by the plow 36, and the dirt from said furrow is discharged on to the turn table and carried to the opposite side of the inachine, where it is discharged on to the ground by the scraper plate 39. The niaohine is then drawn over the saine stretch of road way to dig a. second furrow in the longitudinal portion of the road way which is to be lowered, it being noted that the general operation of the inachine is very similar to a siniple plow operation with the exception that tl e earth turned by the iuoldboa-rd of the plow is discharged a greater distance away laterally of the plow. The grading operation is usually started at one side of and adjacent the center of the road way, to deposit the dirt taken from the first furrows onto the center of the road way, the inachine being moved-in successive operations toward the side of the road to pro cure proper depression thereof.

By tilting the turn table in the nia-nner described, the depth of the furrow dug by the plow inay be varied, it being noted that at all times the adjacent edge of the turn table approximates the bottoni of the furrow whereby to receive a maximum discharge of earth thereonto.

lf desired, a pair of turn tables 35 and 351 of two machines may be placed side by side as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, with the plow of one machine removed and the correspending side portion of its turn table disposed under the side portion of the other turn table which carries the plate 39. Thus upon propulsion of a pair of machines arranged in this manner, the dirt dug by the plow of one machine will be carried transllfl versely of both machines and deposited 0n the ground at a relatively greater lateral distance from the furrow.

What is claimed is:

l. In a road grading machine, a framework, a circular track carried thereby, a turn table rotatably supported by and below the track, a suspension member depending from the framework, a longitudinal pivot connecting it with the track, a pair of bars pivotally connected with lateral portions of the track, and means carried by the framework for adjusting said bars vertically and independently to rock the track on its pivot.

2. In a road grading machine, the combination with a framework mounted on wheels, a liand-operated gear on the framework, a track mounted on a longitudinal pivot beneath the framework, and a rack bar rising from the side of said track and engaged by said gear; of a rotary turn table supported by and below the track, a plow supported by the track at one side of and beyond the turn table, and a scraper supported by the track and resting` on the turn table opposite the plow.

3. In a road grading machine, the combination with a 'framework mounted on wheels, a circular track beneath the framework, a support depending from the framework and connected by a longitudinal pivot with the forward portion of the track, posts rising from the rearward portion of the track near its lateral sides, and means on the framework for raising and lowering said posts 1ndependently; of a turn table rotatably carried by the track and driven from one of the main wheels, a plow supported by the track at one side of and beyond the turn table, and a scraper supported by the track and resting on the turn table opposite the plow.

1l. In a road grading machine, the combination with a framework mounted on wheels, a circular track beneath the framework, a support depending from the framework and connected by a longitudinal pivot with the forward portion of the track, posts rising from the rearward portion of the track near its lateral sides, alined shafts supported by said framework and carrying independent gears and hand wheels, and rack bars pivoted to said posts and meshing with the respective gears; of a turn table rotatably carried by the track and driven from one of the main wheels, a plow supported by the track at one side of and beyond the turn table, and a scraper supported by the track and restin on the turn table opposite the plow.

5. In a road grader of the type described, the combination with an annular track frame having a depending marginal flange inturned into a circular track, a wheeled franiework, and means for adjustably supporting the track frame beneath the framework; of a turn table comprising a plate beneath and larger than said frame, brackets rising therefrom into the frame and turned outward, rollers on the brackets traveling on said track, means connected with one driving wheel for rotating said turn table, a plow supported by the track at one side of and beyond the turn table, and a scraper supported by the track and resting on the turn table opposite the plow.

6. In a road grader of the type described, the combination with an annular track frame having a depending marginal flange inturned into a circular track, a wheeled framework, and means for adjustably supporting the track frame beneath the framework; of a turn table comprising a plate beneath and larger than said frame, brackets rising therefrom into the frame and turned outward, rollers on the brackets traveling on said track, a shaft rising from the turn table through the center of the frame, gearing connections between it and one main driving wheel, said connections permitting the adjustment of the track frame, and means carried by the track frame for collecting earth and depositing it on one side of the turn table and for removing it from the opposite side.

7 In a machine of the type described, a pair of horizontally disposed turn tables overlapping at their inner edges and rotated in the same direction, a plow at the outer side of the upper turn table for gathering earth and depositing it thereon, a scraper above the inner side of this turn table for delivering the earth to thelower turn table, and a scraper at the outer side'of the lower turn table for delivering the earth therefrom, the whole for use as hcreinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

(MR.) CHARLIE SPETH.

Witnesses GEO. WEATHERHOGG, WALTER E. BARNES. 

